Trump says he may scrap Russia sanctions

AFP via Yahoo ^ | January 14th, 2015 | Unattributed

[Mariner]

Washington (AFP) - President-elect Donald Trump has hinted that he may lift sanctions on Russia and won't stand by the "One China" policy unless Beijing improves its currency and trade practices.

Trump told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Friday that he would keep intact "at least for a period of time" sanctions President Barack Obama's administration imposed on Russia last month over Moscow's alleged cyberattacks to influence the US election.

But, if Russia helps the US on key goals such as fighting violent extremists, Trump suggested he may scrap the punitive measures altogether.

He also said he was prepared to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after taking office January 20.

Trump, who sees an opportunity to cooperate with Moscow in fighting jihadist groups like Islamic State, has expressed admiration for Putin, and only reluctantly accepted US intelligence's conclusion that Russian hackers acting on Putin's authority interfered in the US elections.

Turning to the longstanding US practice of not recognizing Taiwan diplomatically, Trump said: "Everything is under negotiation, including One China."

[ichabod1]

Hungary have just denounced him this week, and proscribed his organizations.

[dragnet2]

For someone who seems to be a sort of civil war buff, it's kinda odd ya can't spell, "Sergeant". So I'd bet a cup of coffee ya never served in the military either.

So now I see you're referencing your crystal ball predictor once again Nate. Now alleging you know what I am thinking and what the moniker really means or stands for. Then ya feign being attacked. How typical.

Too funny!☺

[dragnet2]

The inescapable fact remains Nate, for about 15 months, you did nothing but attempt to undermine and compromise Trump every chance ya got. You behaved just like the lying disciples of deceit in the media and the crowns of corruption in D.C. The Internet makes a great witness.☺

[Neoliberalnot]

dear Mollie was blond, VERY intelligent, a hard worker.I miss her very much””

Such is the story of lost love. I often ponder what happened to no less than three young ladies I once dated. I lost contact with them so long ago. What happened to them and are they happy—I hope so. My wife of 39 years probably is uninterested.

[nathanbedford]

You are a lying childish piece of shit.

As much as I regret descending to your level, I want the record to reveal that you are lying and that you are childlishly and unable to stop.

It is late in my time zone and you are not worth any loss of sleep.

[fortes fortuna juvat]

Please,2.8 m votes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sound like too many illegal votes? Actually a very minuscule percentage of the total votes cast. Easily achievable.

[dragnet2]

You are a lying childish piece of shit.

[Shark24]

The funny thing is I think PE Trump is actually “holding back” a bit in his comments.

[Navy Patriot]

They still have a warrant out for him.

Russia and two other jurisdictions have active warrants for Soros.

[Mollypitcher1]

Odd how they ignore the FACT that the Clinton Mafia was responsible for selling our uranium to Russia!!!!! Seems Russia would have preferred the Clinton Hag as our president, not Trump.

[sargon]

Kindly advise me whether you will approve this humble offering as doctrinally sound in keeping with the dominating rules for posting which require that submissions be aligned with the President-elect's positions rather than with conservative values which might indeed be venerable

There are no such rules. You're making things up.

Trump-haters such as yourself are clearly still bitter about a few things. My advice would be to join the Revolution which President-elect Trump is leading, and stop expecting everything to conform to rigid notions of conservative ideological purity.

This movement is not based on purely traditional conservative orthodoxy, and that may be a good thing.

What I do know is that the traditional right-left framework is utterly insufficient to defining American Liberty. I've concluded that it will not be found within those restrictive boundaries.

I think the country is headed in an exciting new direction—a more Constitutional direction, with more limited government—but it will be very challenging. I'm confident that President Trump, if given a fair chance, can unite the People (through love of country and agreement on policy) and build a governing majority which could be superior to anything the country has had in the last century or longer.

On that basis I will be giving President Trump the benefit of the doubt in many cases where I might disagree with a certain policy he espouses.

I don't think, however, that President Trump will be looking back.

I am, overall, extremely pleased with the ideological bent of most of Trump's cabinet and advisors, especially Steve Bannon.

[Disestablishmentarian]

Outstanding analysis and advice, Sargon.

[Repeal The 17th]

I once liked reading your posts, but sometime back you went off the deep end.
I wonder ... how long has it been that you visited the U. S.?

[cynwoody]

We should extradite him to Russia.
They still have a warrant out for him.

My friend Rubashov predicts he wouldn't last long at the 70th parallel.

[politicianslie]

There is no reason, no U.S. Strategic interest, that requires a hostile relationship with Russia.

Obama had very good reasons to be hostile to Russia.

And Hussein Obama had even better reasons to try and keep Russia and the US apart once Trump takes over. Since when did Hussein do anything in America's interest?

Hussein was successful in setting up the MB in Egypt.

Hussein was successful in overthrowing the Libyan government.

Hussein was working hard to overthrow the government in Syria when the Russians stepped in. By overthrowing the government, Hussein was setting up the rebels to take over the country. That was working in Iraq when Hussein pulled out US troops. It was working in Egypt until the Egyptians rose up and threw the MB out. Libya and Syria were works in progress where the rebels still need help.

To make sense of all of this, you must understand who the rebels and MB are. They are Muslim terrorist such as Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. Sure, there were problems such as in Benghazi where the Muslim terrorists screwed up the deals but overall, Hussein's work to make the world Islam was proceeding nicely.

Hussein is going to have real problems watching Russian and Americans fighting side by side killing his ISIS brothers but Trump and Putin see that happening soon, real soon.

[politicianslie]

this is a real billboard in Russia.

So WHY did Hussein lie about Russia?

ANSWER: Hussein worked hard to create ISIS. American and Russian pilots flying together will have target practice with Hussein's Muslims.

[nathanbedford]

You were invited to express your views concerning this vanity

Obviously you did not read it, perhaps because the link did not work and was subsequently submitted, because if you had read it you could not in conscience have made the remarks you made in which you imagine my state of mind.

In general, I can only tell you that a departure from conservative values, which you condone if not advocate, is the path to ruin. We must not whore after Caesar but hold fast to the eternal truths, the conservative verities if you will, the genius which has made America exceptional.

[sargon]

Obviously you did not read it, perhaps because the link did not work and was subsequently submitted.

Yes, the link was bad so I couldn't read what you were referring to. I took the opportunity to opine on various issues of concern to me, in a stream-of-consciousness manner.

In general, I can only tell you that a departure from conservative values, which you condone if not advocate, is the path to ruin.

Nonsense.

Precisely which "conservative values" are you concerned about departing from?

I also note that you don't bother denying that you're a Trump-hater, since that fact continuously oozes from every pore of your being. One of my primary sources of annoyance is your strong tendency to cast aspersions at President-elect Trump, subtle and otherwise, to the point that you show yourself incapable of judging the man fairly.

Your lingering bitterness over the fact that the "true" conservative didn't win the GOP primary has completely overwhelmed your ability to engage in positive debate in this community.

I believe it's important to remind you once again that this election was not determined on the basis of conservative ideological purity, and, indeed, if that had even been attempted, we'd clearly be looking at the inauguration of Madame President Hillary Clinton on Friday.

Furthermore, it seems apparent (to me, at least) that there is a distinct shift occurring away from traditional Republican "conservatism" as a result of this election, as evidenced, for example, by the fact that many Democrat union households contributed to President-elect Trump's astounding victory. While some of these Democrat voters who pulled the lever for Donald Trump might very well be conservative in some aspects, there are some obvious differences between those voters and, say, evangelicals, who also came out in droves to vote for Donald Trump.

When I referred to "departure" from conservative values, my meaning encompassed notions such as shifting attitudes towards "free trade", for instance, even though (as we all know) "free trade" isn't what was being practiced under agreements such as NAFTA and its ilk.

In addition, for instance, with Trump himself, as well as Steve Bannon, there are some elements of more socially liberal thinking, as well as aspects of libertarian (classical liberal?) thought. Not with abortion necessarily, but with other facets.

As a libertarian conservative who firmly believes that the true political spectrum is simply Authority versus Liberty, and that Left and Right, in modern parlance, are simply differing flavors of authoritarianism, I believe that the overturning of this traditional spectrum which voters have been trapped within for many decades is an entirely healthy thing.

This is a Revolution. Revolutions entail significant change. To a great degree, this change that Donald Trump is trying to accomplish is not, as some of his detractors on the Left say, an attempt to "go back to the good old days". Quite the contrary.

I think the American People are thirsting for a new political order which isn't bound by the traditional Right/Left pigeonholes. Achieving a new governing consensus will doubtless require sacrifice and compromise by everyone involved, but those adjustments, of properly executed, will not be unconstitutional, authoritarian, Marxist, or any other "bad" way.

This new world order is going to be a lot better that the one envisioned by globalists, IMHO.

President Trump needs all the positivity and support he can get, and you strike me as someone who would rather see him fail just so you can say "I told you so". Either that, or you're all too willing to carp about every new policy which doesn't comport with your narrow concept of what "true conservatism" consists of.

Dogmatic ideological purists are at least partially responsible for having gotten us to the point where a Revolution was needed in the first place, and I, based on the leader we have chosen as well as the People who elected him, am not fearful about the direction things will take under this administration. I simply don't see how things could do anything but improve viz-a-viz any other outcome of this last election.

You, unfortunately, are still the epitome of a "doubting Thomas", and as such you, along with the strident Left, are part of that faction which is the greatest threat to the success of this movement: either knee-jerk opposition or hand-wringing concern trolling.

Like any true revolutionary, I don't suffer from such misgivings. For the moment, I believe, and it is the believers who will bring this movement to its fruition, not the naysayers or hand-wringers.

So until such time as that proves not to be the case, I once again implore you to join this movement, despite its flawed leader and followers, instead of being lukewarm because of your pathological hatred for Donald J. Trump. You still believe he's a "charlatan" and a "con man", and a hundred other despicable and false things. If not, then I invite you to declare it openly. Until you can overcome your irrational bias, you won't be able to contribute materially to this struggle.

[sargon]

Just to summarize, NB, my concern is the fact that you still obviously consider the President-elect to be a fraud, con man, and charlatan, despite overwhelming and compelling evidence to the contrary.

And you continue to question Trump's conservative bona fides, even though his administration represents the most superb collection of conservative minds and advisors that has been assembled over a century. Trump is building a team that easily rivals Reagan's, if not exceeding it altogether.

I can see President Trump doing things that will rankle doctrinaire conservatives, both fiscal and social, on a few issues here and there.

But overall, the direction of the projected changes, almost across the board, is both undeniable and encouraging.

Frankly, your concern for any "departure from conservative values", before President-elect Trump has even assumed office, seems more a product of your dislike for him, rather than being the result of balanced consideration of what's actually being proposed.

So my questions are, after acknowledging all of Donald J. Trump's real flaws (not the imagined ones):

1) Do you still consider President-elect Trump a charlatan, a fraud, a con man, or a buffoon? Any of those?

2) Do you believe President-elect Trump loves this country and wants to do what's best for it, within Constitutional constraints?

3) Will you ever be able to bring yourself to like the man?

If I could hear some positive answers to the above questions, I'd be much less inclined to conclude that you're an incorrigible Trump-hater.

---

I'll tell you what I think. I think that, even though this is a man who once casually discussed going after married women as conquests, as if it was some kind of acceptable behavior, this man, overall, has character in many places that matter. He also has great skill at connecting with people, as a business executive, and, to be honest, as a leader.

I imagine that every President has had at least one profound weak spot or character deficit. For instance, is something like marital infidelity, which we know many Presidents have been guilty of, really any more (or less) of a detriment than, say, owning slaves? Being a homosexual? Drinking too much? Staging a burlary?

I hope that President-elect Trump has put such immoral thinking behind him and repudiated such behavior. However, I do categorically reject the voluminous and baseless lies that have been promulgated in an effort to smear Donald Trump. And, at least on paper, I do agree with the vast majority of his policies, both in terms of general direction and even details, when provided.

Make no mistake. There are probably some issues where I will oppose President Trump tooth and nail. The Fourth Amendment, for instance. I strongly suspect that President-elect Trump's attitude towards individual privacy is much too pragmatic, and if he doesn't keep his nose clean on things like that then not only will I oppose him, but it'll also present a golden opportunity for his detractors on the Left to accurately label him as fascist.

But, on balance, let's face it: Donald Trump's Presidency is the greatest opportunity for this country to change course in at least 100 years. This movement has the potential to change this country for the good, and in a profound way. It may be our last chance to save this Republic, using a flawed vessel that God can both Bless and Redeem...

[nathanbedford]

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

…Jeremiah 17:9

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

…Romans 3:23

Now you ask, "Do you still consider President-elect Trump a charlatan, a fraud, a con man, or a buffoon?" to which both Jeremiah and St. Paul have vouchsafed us the answer. This is not a dodge on my part. There are three main monuments in Washington DC celebrating Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson. Jeremiah, St. Paul, and I would render the same answer respecting all three.

There are differences of degree, of course. Every one of these men were politicians and they had to con friends and foe alike of their true intentions if they were to prevail as politicians. Jefferson was obviously a hypocrite in his treatment of his slaves, Lincoln was obviously a con man in dealing with his cabinet, his generals, and in furthering the 13th amendment. Washington wore his military attire to the Continental Congress because he wanted to be appointed commander-in-chief.

These men were great men but they were not perfect. Donald Trump is certainly less perfect than they were and, equally important for this discussion, he is far more flamboyant so any deficiency of character he possesses is magnified by the grandiosity of his personality and the power of modern media. On any given day may be any one, none or all of these things but that might not express the essence of his character and even if it does it might not render him less than a very great president.

Anyone who does not believe that Donald Trump is possessed of some degree of all of these character defects is a fool. We were fooled once very recently by George W Bush, his conservatism melted until at the end he was despised by left and right. We should determine not to be fooled again.

The framers had a singular collection of very great men with whom to start off their government and they wrote a Constitution to prevent any one of them from acting on the sins which they presumed everyone of them bore by heeding Montesquieu and separating powers. Can you imagine the conviction of these people about the inherent nature of man to insist that even Washington be subject to constitutional restraint? Yes, many fell on the other side of the line but the people were very mindful of the danger of monarchy. In our last exchange, I referred to it as the danger of a Caesar.

One of the checks on the evil that might be done by powerful men was the first amendment and its protection of free speech. The reaction to the Alien and Sedition Acts of the second president, John Adams, demonstrates the depth of feeling on this issue. Free speech is protected by the First Amendment to protect us from Caesar. To try to intimidate critics of Caesar, or George Washington, or Donald Trump, is to play the fool and play into the hands of those who would deprive us of our liberties.

Remember, your reply #71 you set this subject in the context of liberty:

This movement is not based on purely traditional conservative orthodoxy, and that may be a good thing.What I do know is that the traditional right-left framework is utterly insufficient to defining evidently, AMERICAN LIBERTY. I've concluded that it will not be found within those restrictive boundaries. (Emphasis supplied).

I insist, to the contrary, the conservative verities like the verities of Jeremiah and St. Paul, are immutable and indispensable to liberty. If by a "right-left framework" you meant Republican-Democrat, I would agree with you. But if you mean to set aside that which makes us conservatives because Donald Trump says so, I demur. What is hypocritical on your part is that you reserve unto yourself the right to demur as you please about what constitutes "liberty," for example concerning fourth amendment issues, while you deny the same right to me. Evidently you can discern when Donald Trump's heart is pure, but I cannot.

Consider Trump's policies on trade. He is determined to stop the practice of moving manufacturers to Mexico only to reimport the manufactured widgets. On the whole I think that is a good policy but it is a policy which adversly affects the consumer and the stockholders of the company. We have a Constitution that sets up how these things should be handled and it does not provide for executive Fiat. We are talking about liberty. The liberty of the company to move its plant where it pleases and the liberty of consumers to purchase the goods at presumably a cheaper price. It is a very dangerous proposition to place this kind of unfettered power in the hands of one executive who unilaterally decides that his policy is good for jobholders and that justifies harming consumers and stockholders. The Constitution gives Congress a share in these decisions. It is vital that the process be respected.

On the other hand, there is nothing in the Constitution which prevents a president from jawboning companies. There is a difference between jawboning and sending FBI agents, as JFK did, to roust steel executives out of their beds.

A few notations for the record:

Trump-haters such as yourself are clearly still bitter about a few things.

You repeat this meme over and over leaving me in the impossible position of trying to prove the negative. That is why I twice cited the vanity which you evidently still have not read. It is not a negative piece, in fact it is rather supportive of what seems to be Trump's position concerning Russia.

2) Do you believe President-elect Trump loves this country and wants to do what's best for it, within Constitutional constraints?

Yes, certainly. I believe he loves his country and I believe he would even profess a passing obeisance to the Constitution. But I do not believe that fidelity to the Constitution is in his bones, but he is not alone in that wretched condition. There has not been a president since Franklin Roosevelt who believes in the Constitution with the exception of Ronald Reagan.

If you think Trump adheres to a conservative originalist version of the Constitution except by accident, I see no evidence for it. Ask yourself, why has Trump failed to vigorously support the Article V movement? Has he thought it through? Or is he rather ambitious to be the ringmaster in the center ring without attention being diverted? Who can know, says Jeremiah?

On the whole, however, most of his positions and most of his appointments, as you have pointed out, are very good and consistent with my version of the Constitution.

3) Will you ever be able to bring yourself to like the man?

My observations are not and never have been animated by a personal dislike of Donald Trump. I am wary of the personality cult, but I am also wary of demonizing anyone. In many respects, Donald Trump is a very likable guy. A con man, a sociopath such as Bill Clinton, is universally said to be a likable guy so a hail fellow well met is not necessarily a positive trait of character for the job. Calvin Coolidge is my beau ideal of a president with bonhomie. Donald Trump has many public personality traits that leave him liable to criticism and he openly reacts to criticism, often when he should not and sometimes when he must, which only magnifies the perception.

I do not know how to disabuse you of the notion that all of my observations are animated by nothing more than vitriol. I cannot prove that negative.

I imagine that every President has had at least one profound weak spot or character deficit.

Agreed and for the reasons I stated above.

I do categorically reject the voluminous and baseless lies that have been promulgated in an effort to smear Donald Trump

Agreed.

I do agree with the vast majority of his policies, both in terms of general direction and even details, when provided.

Agreed, as I have stated.

But, on balance, let's face it: Donald Trump's Presidency is the greatest opportunity for this country to change course in at least 100 years. This movement has the potential to change this country for the good, and in a profound way. It may be our last chance to save this Republic, using a flawed vessel that God can both Bless and Redeem...

Agreed, even if hyperbolic.

It is our job to see that he does as his positive qualities suggest he has the potential to do and as God gives us the light to see the right he should do, to admonish him when warranted as well as to encourage him when needed and, critically, to grant our fellow conservatives the same degree of grace we claim for ourselves.